Alarm saving clock



April 7, 1936. H. E. WARREN ALARM SAVING CLOCK Filed? Sept. 25, 1934 Inventoh Hem E.wav-r em His Attohngfl.

Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Warren Telechron Company, a corporation of Maine Application September 25, 1934, Serial No. 745,427

8 Claims.

My invention relates to what are known as saving clocks, and it is the primary object of my invention to provide such a clock wherein the time-keeping function of the clock is not interrupted due to the failure of inserting a coin at the proper time but which, nevertheless, produces an indication of such failure.

A saving clock, as the name implies, is a clock arranged to encourage savings. Usually such a clock is provided with a coin-controlled arrangement for maintaining the clock in operation by the regular deposit of coins, such as once per day or once per week, or an arrangement for stopping the clock in case coins are not deposited according to schedule. In either case, the clock stops if coins are not deposited and this is generally a greater nuisance than it is an incentive for saving. Such mechanisms are generally quite complicated and their operations detrimental to good timekeeping qualities of clocks in general. 1 According to my invention, the normal operation of the clock is independent of the coincontrolled mechanism and the clock continues to keep time regardless of the failure to deposit coins. However, if coins are not deposited ac-: cording to schedule, the clock produces an indication to that effect, which indication continues until a coin is deposited. This indication is preferably audible so that attention is directed thereto when a coin becomes due.

The features of my invention which are believed to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. For a better understanding of my invention, reference is made in the following description to the accompanying drawing showing a perspective and somewhat expanded view of a preferred form of mechanism for an alarm saving clock.

Referring to the drawing for a detail explanation, it will be assumed that a clock gear train is contained between the plates i0 and operates the minute and hour hands of the clock indicated at H. The clock is driven by a synchronous motor represented at l2, secured to the rear plate of the clock-driving mechanism. This motor may be of the self-starting hysteresis type described in my United States Patent No. 1,495,- 936, May 27, 1924, although the details of the electric motor and clock are not important. The

0 5 will be connected to a regulated frequency alteras to drive the hands at accurate clock time.

motor .is energized by a single-phase coil l3 which The main magnetic circuit of the motor stator extends from the core [5 of coil l3 upward and embraces the rotor contained in a chamber it between the motor pole pieces. The above constitutes one form of well known synchronous motor driven clock arrangement to which my invention may be applied.

The motor field structure is also arranged to operate an electromagnetic alarm used in connection with the saving" features when coins are not deposited according to schedule. This electromagnetic alarm comprises magnetic strips ill and I8 extending downward from opposite ends of core piece l5. These strips have their lower ends extending towards each other and shunt a small portion of the alternating flux from the main magnetic field circuit of the motor; however, not a suflicient amount to interfere with the normal operation of the motor.

The leakage alternating flux, which is shunted between the parts H and I8, is caused to in fluence a magnetic vibrator hammer Hi. This hammer consists of a thin strip of resilient magnetic material having one end riveted to the horizontal portion of part l8 and extending over and spaced from the adjacent portion of part ill. The alternating flux causes the hammer part ill to vibrate and, in so doing, to strike part fil,

causing an audible sound. An alarm operating lever 20, controlled jointly by the differential action of the coin and clock mechanisms to be hereinafter described, is arranged to move upward against the resilient hammer I9 and to hold it from vibrationand thus render the alarm silent except when coins are not deposited in the device according to schedule and the action of the time mechanism thus predominates as will be hereinafter explained.

The lever 2|] has a part 2! resting on cam 22. Cam 22 is secured to a shaft 23, and this shaft is arranged to be rotated in one direction, step by step, in response to the deposit of coins, and in the opposite direction, step by step, by the clock in' response to the passage of time. In one rotative position of cam 22 and shaft 23, the part'Zl of the alarm control lever 20 rests in a depression of thecam and the alarm is free to sound. This condition of affairs is represented in the drawing. In all other rotative positions of shaft 23 and cam 22 as here arranged, the lever 20 will be raised to hold the alarm hammer from vibrating.

The parts that cause rotation of the cam shaft in response to the deposit of coins may be termed the coin-crediting mechanism" and conoperating relation with ratchet wheel 24 and this. wheel is thus not prevented from rotation in either direction by pawl lever 23 under normal conditions. The other end of pawl lever 23 is positioned between .a coin slit 23 in the wall 33 of the casing in which the entire apparatus is housed and a coin chute 3|. The pawl lever 25 partially blocks the passageway for coins in the position shown and, in order to insert a coin,

it is necessary to force the coin into the coin slot and press the adjacent end of lever 23' downward sothat the coin will pass over it. The coin then drops into a coin be: represented at 32 and spring 21 returns the lever to the position shown. The deposit of a coin thus rocks pawl lever 25 suil'lciently so that its pawl end advances ratchet wheel 24 the distance of one tooth and with it shaft 23 and cam 22. Several coins may be deposited one after the other with corresponding further rotations of cam 22.

The parts that cause rotation of shaft 23 and cam 22 in the opposite direction in response to the passage of time may be termed the time- .debiting arrangement and include a ratchet wheel 33 which is not directly secured to shaft 23 but connected thereto through a friction clutch which may include a collar 34 secured to ratchet wheel 24 on shaft 23, and a spring 33 pressing ratchet wheel 33 against collar 34 with sumcient force for the purpose of this arrangement. Ratchet wheel 33 is prevented from backward rotation by a stop pawl 33 and is advanced by a pawllever 31 which is rocked by a cm 33 driven from the clockwork through a gear train 33 and shaft 43. It will be assumed that cam 33 is driven ina clockwise direction, one-revolution in-twenty-four hours by the synchronous motor l2 .which drives the clockwork. Pawl lever 31 is held against cam 33 by a spring 4|. .It will be evident that the energy for advancing ra chet wheel 33 is thus gradually stored in spring 4| and that this energy is released when lever 31 drops off the single step in cam .33.

No sudden load is thrown on theclock motor due to this operation and the timing qualities of the clock are, therefore, not interfered with by the time-debiting arrangement. Since m pawl 25 of the coin-crediting arrangement is normally withdrawn from operating relation with its ratchet wheel 24, the clock-operated time-debiting arrangement operating through ratchet wheel 33 and the friction clutch is free to turn shaft 23 and cam 22 in the direction opposite to that in which the shaft is rotated due to the deposit of a coin. Arrows adjacent the two ratchet wheels indicate the pposite directions of rotation thereof in response to their operating pawls. The time-debiting mechanism. thus nullifies the action of the coin-controlled mechanism in its control of the alarm in response to the -e of time. The friction clutch and stop pawl it permits coins to be in- ,serted at-any time without disturbing the posi- Ztionof ratchet wheel 33.

but it will be noted that at point 42 in ratchet wheel 24 one tooth is missing, consequently, after seven coins have been depomted at any one time. shaft 23 will not be further advanced by the deposit of a coin until the time-debiting apparatus has operated, although any additional number of coins may be inserted and will be deposited in the coin box.

Theshaft 23 may be extended to the front or back of the clock casing and be provided with a pointer 43 which indicates on a dialthe condition of the app ratus in terms of the number of coins which havebeen credited but not debited or the number of 24-hour days that remain before a coin need be inserted to prevent the alarm from sounding. If coins are not inserted, the time-debiting parts will eventually rotate the cam 22 to the position shown and sound the alarm. If no coin is inserted, the alarm will continue to sound indefinitely since at the end of the next 24-hour period, the lever 31 and its ratchet wheel will be actuated but this will not rotate shaft 23 and cam 22 because thisis prevented by reason of the'factthat the cam follower 2| rests against the steep step in cam 22 and blocks rotation of the cam Inna counterclockwise direction past this point; The parts, therefore, cannot get out of their proper positions-as determined by the normal coin-crediting and time-debiting operations and'coins may be inserted at any time of the day and full credit received therefor up to the limit of the deviw.

The operation may be reviewed as follows:

Assume that the clock is energized and in normal operation. It will be evident that it will continue to operate regardless of whether the coin saving feature is being utilized or not. With the parts in the conditions shown in the drawing, the alarm will be sounding because now the lever 23, which normally holds the hammer II from vibrating, is withdrawnfrom contact with the hammer. Let us assume now that eight coins are inserted in slot 23 and forced over lever 23. This will cause lever 23 to oscillate a corresponding number of times, and ratchet wheel 24 with shaft 23 and cam 22 will be rotated one-eighth revolution for each of tlie first seven coins. The coins drop in box 32, which is inside the casing presumably under lock and key. The friction clutch between ratchet wheel 33 and shaft 23 slips during the operations above described and the ratchet wheel 33 is held in a given position by pawl 33. As soon as the first coin is inserted, cam 22 is rotated far enough to raise lever 23 into contact with hammer H and stop its vibration.

The insertion of the next six additional coins cause cam 22 to be -further rotated in the same direction with alarm lever 23 raised alarm silent. The insertion of the e thcoin 1 rocks lever 23 but produces no other result because now its pawl is opposite point 42 of the ratchet wheel.- During the next 24hour period or such other period for which the device is designed, the clock driven cam 33 slowly rotates and rocks lever 31, stretching spring 4| and retracting its pawl which drops behind the next tooth in ratchet wheel 33. At the end of this period, lever 31 drops over the step in cam 33 and spring 4| then actuates the lever and advances ratchet wheel 33 one-eighth of a revolution. This rotational movement is conveyed to cam 22 through the friction clutch and shaft 23 and also to ratchet wheel 24 since its pawl lever 23 is out of the way. These time debiting opd the erations are continued from day to day until, at the end of the seventh day, the cam 22 has been returned to .the position shown and the alarm sounded unless, in the meantime, an additional coin or coins have been inserted.

vThe device thus serves as an accurate time clock without interruptions or detriment to its time-keeping function. At thesame time, it serves to encourage savings "in a convenient way in that one or more coins may be deposited at a time and at any time of day. The balance of credit with respect to time is always indicated and, when this credit runs out, a continuous audible alarm gives notice thereof. The saving mechanism is moreover simply and easily applied to the usual form of clock mechanism without re-design thereof.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described myinvention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the bestembodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understoodthat the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An alarm saving clock comprising in combination with a clock, a coin-crediting mechanism actuated in response to the deposit of coins, a time-debiting mechanism actuated in response to the normal operation of said clock at predetermined time intervals, an audible alarm, and means controlled jointly by the action of said two mechanisms acting differentially thereon for sounding said alarm when the action of the time-debiting mechanism predominates.

2. An alarm saving clock comprising a clock mechanism, an electric motor for driving said clock, an alarm actuated by leakage flux from said electric motor, a lever adjacent said alarm movable to and from a position which prevents said alarm from operating, coin-actuated means for moving said lever to said position, and means actuated by said clock in response to the passage of time for moving said lever from said position.

3. An alarm saving clock comprising a clock mechanism, an alternating current synchronous motor for driving said clock, a magnetic vibratoralarm mechanism operated by leakage flux from said synchronous motor, a member associated with said alarm mechanism movable to and from a position where it prevents the vibration of said alarm mechanism, a coin-actuated device for moving said member to said position, and means driven by said synchronousmotor for storing energy over a predetermined interval of time and releasing said energy at the end of such time interval for moving said lever from said position.

4. A saving clock comprising in combination with a clock, a mechanism for encouraging the saving of coins, including a shaft provided with a pair of ratchet wheels for turning said shaft in opposite directions in equal steps, a coinactuated ratchet pawl cooperating with one of said ratchet wheels, a ratchet pawl actuated at predetermined intervals in response to the passage of time as measured by said clock cooperating with the other ratchet wheel, an audible alarm, control means therefor operated by and in response to the .rotationof said shaft, said shaft having a plurality of rotary positions de termined by the aforesaid ratchet devices where the alarm is silenced and one rotary position where the alarm sounds, the time-controlled ratchet device serving to rotate the shaft towards the last named position.

5. An alarm saving clock comprising in combination with a clock, an alarm, a rotary member limited to less than a complete revolution for controlling the operation of said alarm, said rotary member having an initial position where said alarm operates and a plurality of positions where said alarm is silent, a ratchet mechanism actuated in response to the passage of time at predetermined intervals'as determined by said clock for rotating said member towards its initial position, and a coin-actuated ratchet mechanism for rotating said member away from its initial position.

6. An alarm saving clock comprising in combination with a clock, an alarm, a rotary cam for controlling the operation of said alarm, .said

carn having an initial position where the alarm sounds and a plurality of positions where the alarm is silent, a coin-actuated ratchet mechanism for rotating said cam away from its initial position, a ratchet mechanism actuated at predetermined intervals of time in response to the operation of said clock for rotating said cam towards its initial position, said two ratchet mechanisms producing equal angular movements of said cam corresponding to a fractional part of a complete revolution for each operation thereof, and means limiting the rotation of said cam to a considerably greater fraction of a revolution.

7. An alarm saving clock comprising in combination with.a clock, an alarm, a rotary cam for controlling the operation of said alarm, said cam having an initial rotary position where said alarm is sounded and a plurality of other rotary positions where said alarm is silent, a multiple-toothed coin-actuated ratchet mechanism for rotating said cam away from said initial position, a ratchet mechanism actuated in response to the operation of said clock at predetermined time intervals for rotating said cam towards its initial position, said two ratchet mechanisms producing equal angular movements of said cam appreciably less than the complete range of rotary movement of said cam for unitary operation of said ratchet mechanisms, means for limiting the range of rotary movement of said cam to slightly less than a complete revolution, and means for preventing interference by one ratchet mechanism when the other ratchet mechanism is actuated.

8. An alarm saving clock comprising in combination with a clock, an alarm, a rotary cam' for controlling the operation of said alarm, said cam having one position where the alarm is sounded and a plurality of other positions where said alarm is silent, a coin-actuated coin-crediting mechanism for rotating said cam in steps away from its initial position a distance in proportion to the number of coins deposited and .a coin-debiting mechanism actuated at predetermined time intervals as determined by said clock for rotating said cam in similar steps in the reverse direction, and means for indicating the condition of said apparatus in terms of the number of coins credited but not debited.

HENRY E. WARREN. 

